The topic of the week has been the possibility of
a Restoration in France. The Monarchists say that the Orleanist Princes having yielded their claims during the lifetime of their cousin, a majority can be found in the Assembly to recognise Henri de Bourbon as King of France. In that event the Army would obey the Assembly, the officials have been manipulated, all hostile papers are being suppressed, M.M. Thiers and Gambetta could be
arrested, and the King would be led back "to the Tuileries" amidst universal applause. They mean, at all events, to try it, and believe they can succeed. It may be so, of course. If they can get their majority, if M. de Clunnbord does not throw them over once more, if Paris has no fight left in her, if the Germans like to see an armed champion of Ultramontanism on the French throne, if the Monarchists dare arrest the man who fought for France, if the Republican divisions of the Army adhere, if Marshal MacMahon likes the role of catspaw, and if Providence relaxes its steady opposi- tion to the Bourbons, they may succeed. If any one of those contingencies breaks down they fall, and the failure will be final. Charles Edward, the superior at least in audacity of the Bour- bons, only reached Derby. They see success before them, they say, if only the King "believes in the Sacred Heart." Victory is to the pious, no doubt,—as witness the two Bonapartes, and Louis XV., who died in his bed undisputed King, after reigning through a long life and setting up a Parc aux Cerfs.
